FC Gym Stories: Tim Boetsch Knocks Out Everyone in a Basement
FC Gym Stories: Tim Boetsch Knocks Out Everyone in a Basement
Tim Boetsch burst onto the mainstream MMA scene at UFC 81. His preparations for that bout may surprise you.
Tim Boetsch burst onto the mainstream MMA scene with a ferocious debut inside the Octagon at UFC 81.
In that matchup, Boetsch outstruck the overmatched David Heath on the feet before viciously throwing his foe on his head and finishing the job with punches.
The term "Redneck Judo" was coined, and Boetsch instantly became a fan favorite for his straightforward, aggressive style of striking and his crushing ground-and-pound. Boetsch has fought a who's-who during his time in the UFC light heavyweight and middleweight divisions. His signature victories are his all-time great comeback stoppage of Yushin Okami, his decision over Hector Lombard, as well as stoppages of Kendall Grove and Brad Tavares.
He has also thrown down with greats such as Dan Henderson and former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. For our next installment of Gym Stories, Boetsch doesn't take us to a world-class, internationally known MMA super gym. He takes us to Sunbury, Pennsylvania, telling us how he became a household name in MMA and rose toward the top of the UFC middleweight division—all while training in his father-in-law's basement.
"I think some of the craziest training that ever happened took place in Wade's basement," Boetsch said. "It was a 10x10 room, so when you would spar, literally, you stood in front of each other and beat on each other until someone went down.
"There was a night where I knocked out three guys in three consecutive rounds. That type of training forced you to fight. There was no circling. We were beating the crap out of each other. Fortunately, I had enough friends locally that just allowed me to beat the crap out of them during the beginning of my career."
The consecutive concussions weren't the only worry of Boetsch's opponents.
"There was a low ceiling there, too, and I remember one time someone hit a big throw and hit an air conditioning duct that was hanging down there," he said. "It was a unique training experience. I had established myself at the highest level of the sport and as a fighter to watch in the UFC while training with my friends in my father in law's basement."
In that matchup, Boetsch outstruck the overmatched David Heath on the feet before viciously throwing his foe on his head and finishing the job with punches.
The term "Redneck Judo" was coined, and Boetsch instantly became a fan favorite for his straightforward, aggressive style of striking and his crushing ground-and-pound. Boetsch has fought a who's-who during his time in the UFC light heavyweight and middleweight divisions. His signature victories are his all-time great comeback stoppage of Yushin Okami, his decision over Hector Lombard, as well as stoppages of Kendall Grove and Brad Tavares.
He has also thrown down with greats such as Dan Henderson and former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. For our next installment of Gym Stories, Boetsch doesn't take us to a world-class, internationally known MMA super gym. He takes us to Sunbury, Pennsylvania, telling us how he became a household name in MMA and rose toward the top of the UFC middleweight division—all while training in his father-in-law's basement.
"I think some of the craziest training that ever happened took place in Wade's basement," Boetsch said. "It was a 10x10 room, so when you would spar, literally, you stood in front of each other and beat on each other until someone went down.
"There was a night where I knocked out three guys in three consecutive rounds. That type of training forced you to fight. There was no circling. We were beating the crap out of each other. Fortunately, I had enough friends locally that just allowed me to beat the crap out of them during the beginning of my career."
The consecutive concussions weren't the only worry of Boetsch's opponents.
"There was a low ceiling there, too, and I remember one time someone hit a big throw and hit an air conditioning duct that was hanging down there," he said. "It was a unique training experience. I had established myself at the highest level of the sport and as a fighter to watch in the UFC while training with my friends in my father in law's basement."